The Danger of Cyberstalking During a Divorce

The Danger of Cyberstalking During a Divorce

With the creation of social media maps and a number of other modern day pieces of technology, it has become particularly easy to do a number of things, which unfortunately includes cyberstalking. The act of cyberstalking refers to harassing someone through the use of any type of electronic feature including email and social media. While the divorce process is particularly stressful, cyberstalking occurs in an unexpectedly large number of divorces. If your spouse has been cyberstalking you during a divorce, it is in your best interest to obtain the assistance of an experienced family law attorney.

What Constitutes Cyberstalking in a Divorce Case

Someone can cyberstalk their former spouse online by reading the ex’s social media pages, posts, comments, or even looking at the accounts of the ex’s friends to learn information. Most cyberstalking leaves a person feeling uncomfortable, but some can even leave a person feeling threatened or in danger. Particularly, this occurs when an ex leaves hostile messages or creates a fabricated account to bully the former spouse. Most spouses decide to cyberstalk during a divorce so they can find out details about what the other spouse has been doing since the end of the marriage.

What Georgia Law Says about Cyberstalking

Georgia law states that a person commits the offense of stalking when the person places another individual under surveillance or contacts another individual without the consent of that individual for the purpose of harassing and intimidating them.

While some states have separate cyberstalking law, Georgia code merely states that this regulation also applies to computers and computer networks.

A person can contact someone by broadcast, computer, computer network, or through any other type of electronic device. A person is considered to harass or intimidate someone by knowingly or willfully directing conduct at a certain person and causing emotional distress that places the individual in reasonable fear of his or her safety or the safety of a family member.

Tips to Stay Safe From Cyberstalking

If you believe that a former spouse is cyberstalking you, immediately take steps to protect your online information. Exercise a great degree of caution with what you choose to share online because public information could later be used against you in a court of law. Some people even decide it is safer to refrain from all social media during their divorce. If you decide to continue using social media during the divorce process, avoid discussing anything about your children, your divorce, your finances, your spouse, and anyone else that you might be romantically interested in or dating.

To stay safe during a divorce, make sure to change the passwords for any accounts that your spouse might be able to access.

Contact a Cyberstalking Attorney Today

If your family has been affected by cyberstalking, an experienced family law attorney can help. Contact Vayman & Teitelbaum P.C. to schedule an initial free consultation, during which time we will discuss your divorce as well as your various options to respond.